Processed cheese “Druzhba”: composition and recipe for soup

Description of the monument to processed cheese “Friendship”

In 2004, the owners of the factory came up with the idea to perpetuate this brand because the date was set - exactly 40 years had passed since the cheese was first produced. It was decided to announce a competition for the best idea for the monument. Among the experts who selected the contestants were such well-known people in the art world:

• Nikas Safronov;
• Valentin Yudashkin;
• Victor Shenderovich;
• Zurab Tsereteli.

Zurab really liked the idea of ​​the monument, so he offered his vision of the sculpture. It consisted in the fact that a large block of stone should be located on a golden pedestal. Inside it, the sculptor suggested pouring a glass three-dimensional figure, on which there should be the inscription “Friendship”. The processed cheese monument had to be short so that people could easily touch it.

Competition winners

There were about 150 project options. Ultimately, the jury made the final decision and named the winners. The authors of the monument to processed cheese “Friendship” in Moscow were the following individuals:

• Marina Leskova;
• Shcherbakovs (father and son);
• Alexey Semenov.

They were inspired to create the project by Krylov’s fable “The Crow and the Fox.” The characters in the work were enemies who constantly fought for a piece of cheese. However, they decided to interpret the fable in a new way. The Crow and the Fox have ceased to be competitors, they are sitting together on a tree stump, hugging, and in their hands there is processed cheese “Friendship”. The monument did not come cheap - the total cost was about 500 thousand dollars.

In 2005, the second Moscow festival dedicated to cheese was planned. It took place on October 1st. The creators of the project decided to celebrate this day by opening a new attraction.

The opening of the monument was successful. Many visitors came with their families. Moreover, there were even those who brought flowers to him. Which is not surprising, because this product evokes many nostalgic memories.

Monument to Druzhba cheesecake

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01/09/09/Added by the editors/

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• Other names: Druzhba cheese / monument to Druzhba cheese
• Date of construction: 2005. Dismantled in 2015.
• Architect, sculptor, restorer: Marina Leskova and Alexey Semenov
• Address: Rustaveli st., 14
• Coordinates: 37°36′6.26″E; 55°48′48.20″N

Print information about an object

The monument to the legendary Soviet cheese “Druzhba” was produced with funds from the “Karat” processed cheese factory, which in 2004 held a competition to select a design for the “Friendship” monument. As a result of the competition, the project of artist-illustrator Marina Leskova and professor-economist Alexey Semenov won.

The selection was made from 150 applications. The opening of the monument was associated with one of the cheese festivals regularly held in Moscow. At the opening of the monument, Muscovites came with whole families, with flowers, which testifies to the people's real love for “Friendship”. And the representative of the competition jury, satirist Vladimir Vishnevsky, said on this occasion: “I see more kindness in this event than irony.”

The monument embodies the characters of Ivan Krylov’s famous fable “The Crow and the Fox.”

The sculptural figures of the heroes of the fable - the crow and the fox, having forgotten their rivalry and tenderly embraced, turned all their attention to the cheese, which, due to its name, legendary history and other material and intangible properties, unites even rivals and adversaries and brings only positive emotions. The cheese on the monument is reproduced very thoroughly - even with a barcode.

Not only friendly Muscovites and guests of the capital show their attention to cheese. So, on January 30, 2008, a two-hundred-kilogram cheese, measuring one by one and a half meters, was stolen from a crow and a fox by unknown persons. Soon enough the cheese was returned to its original place.

An unusual sculptural composition often ends up on the wedding routes of Moscow newlyweds, who come to the monument not just to take pictures with the heroes of the fable, but also to provide their family with strong friendship in advance, which this kind and cheerful monument obviously helps to do. And sometimes the management of “Karat” gives newlyweds a basket with their cheeses, which also apparently attracts wedding processions.

In 2011, in connection with the construction of the Butyrskaya metro station, the monument was moved to the entrance of the plant, losing its pedestal, made in the form of a piece of cheese, and in 2015 it was completely removed.

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Interesting information

The monument symbolizes the reconciliation of two enemy sides and eternal friendship, which is so difficult to find in our time.

But why exactly processed cheese “Druzhba”? For people who are not familiar with the Soviet era, this may seem strange. At that time it was the most affordable, versatile and accessible food product. It was used as an appetizer and snack, and was also an ingredient that was added to many more complex dishes. Therefore, it becomes clear why the creators wanted to immortalize this particular product.

Cheese "Friendship" - how much is there in this word?

The iconic processed cheese “Druzhba”, a symbol of informal communication in the ascetic era of stagnation, may disappear from store shelves. They want to declare the Moscow processed cheese factory Karat bankrupt, reports MK.

Alexander Kamaev, director of the social shelter for homeless people “Mercy”:

— The “Friendship” cheese is, in fact, a reminder of that very notorious “scoop”, of everything bad we had then. However, it also reminds us of youth, of that wonderful time when everyone is happy and has big plans. There is nothing good or bad about the loss of cheese, it’s just that everything has an end, and its time has come. However, in the past we all had stability and confidence in the future, but today many have lost them. We, in fact, have lost something that until recently seemed unshakable, and “Friendship” was a reminder of this.

Leonid Cheparin, Chairman of the Kazanka-7 Homeowners Association:

“I remember this cheese, we took it for a snack and for sandwiches when there was nothing in the stores. But these cheeses were so tasteless... Once you’ve eaten enough, you can’t crave it anymore. There is no nostalgia for cheese, but I, like many people, want to bring back my youth from the past. If I could step back for 20-30 years, my friends and I lived an interesting life back then, worked hard and knew how to relax happily.

Marina Voronina, chief medical officer of the Kazan city ambulance station:

— Druzhba cheese is not the best for me, but it is an affordable snack during my student years. Much earlier we lost a good stew. And from the intangible they have lost a certain social ideology, taking its fragments into the present, and this, it seems to me, hinders the development of society. For example, commitment to bureaucracy grows from the past. Or the habit of shifting responsibility to others, striving to divide it, blurring it - these are echoes of the concept of “collective responsibility”, which was used to operate during the “Friendship”. Fragments of the old consciousness hover in society: the old generation cannot be changed, but the youth are “infected.”

Boris Mendelevich, head of the health department of the Cabinet of Ministers:

“I remember these cheese curds very well and at one time I enjoyed eating them. Then they disappeared, and when they appeared on sale again, I, frankly, was glad to see the return of “Friendship”. But I would be lying if I said that she is very dear to me. And the Druzhba cheese will not disappear. This is a brand, so there will be enterprising people who will buy it and start producing cheese curds at another factory. This is how many Soviet products became a brand and survived: lemonade, sprats, “Doctor’s” sausage... Cheeses became a brand because they were very affordable, and sausage for many is a reminder of childhood. After all, taste preferences are formed precisely then, and people strive at the time when they felt especially happy. So we are nostalgic - for food, and for the Komsomol, and for much else, even if it really wasn’t that wonderful.

Stealing the cheese

In 2008, namely on January 30, an unpleasant event occurred. Someone stole the bronze cheese. He weighed approximately 200 kg. A little later he was discovered. On February 4 he was returned to his place. A part of the monument was found during snow removal near the Ostankino bagel products factory, which is located next to the sculptural composition.

Most likely, the attackers did not calculate their strength, because it is not easy to carry such a load, which is why they left the stolen cheese. The plant's managers promised a reward for the return of the cheese, which amounted to 100 thousand rubles. However, no one contacted him.

In 2015, the sculpture disappeared from its place, all that was left of it was a granite platform - the monument to processed cheese “Friendship” was dismantled. The reason for this decision is still unknown, but local residents continue to believe that someday they will be able to admire the sculpture again.

History[ | ]

In 2004, the Karat processed cheese factory, in connection with the 40th anniversary of the production of Druzhba cheese, decided to perpetuate this brand and announced a competition for the production of a monument project. The jury included famous artists - fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin, artist Nikas Safronov, writer Viktor Shenderovich and others. Zurab Tsereteli, also interested in the idea of ​​such a monument, expressed the following opinion[1]:

Of the 150 projects submitted to the competition, the one that depicted the Crow and the Fox with cheese was chosen. The authors of the project are professor Alexey Semenov and artist Marina Leskova, sculptors are father and son Shcherbakov[2]. The construction of the sculptural composition cost the cheesecake factory $500,000.

Empty pedestal after temporary dismantling of the monument, 2015

The monument was opened in September 2005 during the second Moscow Cheese Festival[3].

Soon, a tradition arose among newlyweds to go to the monument on their wedding day so that the family would be friendly and strong. The management of “Karat” gave visiting couples a basket with their cheeses [ significance of the fact?

].

On January 30, 2008, unknown persons stole the main component of the monument - processed cheese[4]. The factory promised a reward of 100 thousand rubles for the return of the cheese. However, already on February 4, it was discovered while clearing snow near a neighboring building, the Ostankino Lamb Products Factory - apparently, the thieves were not able to take the two hundred kilogram cheese far away[5].

In 2011, in connection with the construction of the Butyrskaya metro station, the monument was moved[6] to the entrance of the plant, losing its pedestal, made in the form of a piece of cheese, and in 2015 it was removed to the territory of the plant[7]. On August 18, 2021, the monument was returned to its original location[6].

In Moscow there is a monument to processed cheese “Friendship”, which is held by a crow and a fox.

International Friendship Day is celebrated
annually on July 30. One of the “youngest” holidays was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2011. This day is designed to help people of different faiths and cultures find a common language, get rid of mistrust and eradicate conflicts.

From time immemorial, friendship has been and continues to be the most important indicator of a person’s worldview, and relations between peoples and countries increasingly depend on the friendship of their representatives. And this feeling is worthy of today’s day on the calendar!

Interesting Facts -

IN

In Moscow there is a monument to processed cheese “Friendship”, which is held by a crow and a fox.

IN

The expression “bosom friend,” which today denotes strong friendship, has completely different roots. Initially, this phraseological unit meant: “pour into the Adam’s apple,” “get drunk.” That is, in essence, we were talking about a drinking buddy.

ABOUT

obvious fact: the main reason for the end of female friendship is the man.

M

Men change friends less often than women.

M

Men are much more loyal to their friends than women are to their friends.

F

French scientists have discovered that even sharks “know how” to be friends: in schools, some individuals stick together all the time, while avoiding others.

P

half of those you consider your friends do not consider you their friend.

What bright events happened on July 30th -

1708 - The Russian ambassador to London, boyar Andrei Matveev, was attacked.

His crew was attacked by three thugs hired by creditors, to whom he owed about £50. The ambassador was given a fair beating before passers-by who came running to hear the noise stopped the carnage.

History of Druzhba cheese

The history of the appearance of processed cheese supposedly began in the 14th century in Switzerland.
Inventive shepherds, who often made long mountain treks, found a way to deliciously prepare dried cheese: it was melted in a pot with the addition of wine. Later, the same method was used by soldiers during the First World War, of which written references have been preserved. As for the recipe for Druzhba cheese itself, it was created in 1963. At that time, processed cheeses were already produced in Switzerland and the USA on an industrial scale. For this reason, in 1930, the USSR government opened the question of creating a domestic plant for the production of a similar product. The Moscow Processed Cheese Factory launched production in 1934, releasing “Cheese No. 1”. The plant developed rapidly and thirty years later, the recipe for “Druzhba” cheese was developed, which quickly won the love of the people.

In the early 90s, due to political and economic changes, the plant was ruined and closed. Now Druzhba cheese is produced, whose premises are located in Moscow, Voronezh and Saratov regions.